With the continued growth of ecommerce and in-store comparison-shopping via mobile devices, it’s become harder for many bricks-and-mortar retailers to get customers to make on-the-spot purchases. However, instead of seeing mobile and ecommerce as a threat, some savvy retailers have embraced the adage “if you can’t beat them, join them.”

So how are these bricks-and-mortar retailers using mobile and social apps to their advantage – and what can you do to keep consumers from going elsewhere to shop? Follow these nine suggestions to make the sale.

1. Provide free Wi-Fi. Consumers want to use their phones to shop (or while shopping). And if they can’t use their smartphones or tablets in your store, they are likely to leave. So consider providing free Wi-Fi.

“Retailers should look to deploy secure public wireless networks that support consumer apps that drive engagement with mobile shoppers,” says Greg Griffiths, vice president, product marketing, EarthLink, which provides managed network, security and cloud solutions for multi-location retail and service businesses. Using Wi-Fi and beacons, “retailers can interact with mobile shoppers while gathering information on who's in the store and how long they stay to learn more about shopping patterns.”

2. Station self-service kiosks around the store. Not every customer has or wants to use her mobile device when in a store, which is why retailers should consider self-service kiosks.

“In-store kiosks that integrate with the [retailer’s] point of sale system and online store can show customers what options are available online and in store, and even direct them to where they [can find items] within the store,” says Andrew Van Noy, CEO, Warp 9, digital commerce, mobile and security experts. “In addition, these integrated kiosks could make product recommendations that may have not been previously considered.”

Similarly, “retailers can take a page from the Target and Macy's playbooks and draw attention in store to items that have been featured or highly popular on Pinterest [or Instagram],” says Michelle Stinson Ross, who handles social media outreach at AuthorityLabs, which provides search engine rank monitoring software. “Take it a step further with pins that demonstrate how a product can be used.” For example, “a cake pan can be featured in a creative summer recipe. A scarf can be featured as a way to change up several outfits.”

4. Create a branded retail mobile app that can be used in store to provide shoppers better service. “When a shopper enters a physical store, encourage them to launch a branded app to see available loyalty credits, view products they tagged as favorites and get suggestions on products based on their profile and past purchases,” suggests Tom Redd, global vice president, strategic communications, SAP. “This connects shoppers with products matched to their preferences, and helps them find new products to complement ones they already own. This is highly effective in fashion, but also tools, electronics and housewares,” he says. “After purchase, shoppers can use the app to post purchases to social sites for extended marketing reach.”

5. Offer mobile coupons to customers while they are shopping. “Shoppers [often] forget they have mobile coupons while they are in a store aisle,” says Liz Crawford, senior vice president, Insights & Strategy, and head of ShopLab, a division of Match Marketing Group. However, apps like “Target’s cartwheel have successfully overcome this issue.” Target shoppers unaware of sales or promotions “can grab a discount on the spot by scanning a code on the endcap at Target stores [with cartwheel],” she explains. Then “the shopper’s cartwheel account code is shown, via smartphone, at checkout.”

Another popular in-store rewards and deals app is shopkick, whose retail partners include Macy's, Target, Best Buy, JCPenney, Kraft, Unilever, P&G and many others.